Tag Archives: catholic faith

Well, It’s been months since I posted and I apologize for that (to anyone who cares..lol). I was really busy at work for a time and I also finally started RCIA class!!! YES!!

I can say, without a doubt, RCIA class has been very informative and helpful. It seems like everyone in my class has made a connection with each other and we’ve also argued with each other too, believe it or not. But we know that we are in this together.

Throughout this journey, my faith in God has strengthened. I’ve even asked Mary’s help in prayer a number of times – not to mention all of the rosaries I’ve prayed (thanks to my two favorite apps – Holy Rosary and Pocket Rosary.) I absolutely love it!

I’m still working a lot of hours on my job which is the reason for the infrequent posts.

Diet Update:
I screwed up. Because I’m working so many hours, junk food has been my staple – especially chocolate cake or muffins. Bad me! I actually gained a pound (making my weightloss 3 pounds instead of 4). I haven’t completely gone back to my old eating habits, it’s just a slack a bit. I’m also very tired from the hours at work and my son being sick. (a serious lack of sleep). I am trying to get back on track now.

I realize that I eat junk when I get stressed and I’ve been very stressed lately. It’s the old “comfort food” problem. I’m wondering if food should be that much comfort…Conversion update: I was contacted by a Deacon at church who is in charge of the RCIA program, so I should be starting the process this month with a few inquiry sessions. I am so excited and nervous.

The way that some Catholics treat Mary was one of the hardest things that I have had to deal with as far as my conversion to Catholicism goes. When I told my immediate family about my conversion, they were supportive, but the one thing that was requested of me was no Mary or Pope worship! (I did explain to them the Catholic understanding of these topics. There request came from what they saw on TV whenever the Pope visited a country (kissing the ring and bowing) or a Mary apparition was found.)

The Catholic position of Mary being the “Mother of God” as well as the mother of the church is not where my problem lied. Mary is indeed the mother of Jesus and the bible says we are to call her “blessed”. Not a problem at all!

My issue is with what’s called as veneration to her. Or even worse, consecration to Mary. Veneration….consecration…devotion…those are some very scary words to a protestant. It appears to take the focus off of Christ and on to Mary. Not to mention, there are images that don’t look to cool to non-catholics (and orthodox), such as:

The most important thing to any Christian is to be focused on Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Anything that takes the focus off of Him and on to something else is blasphemy, right? St. Louis de Montfort is the most well-known saint to many Mary consecrators. de Montfort, in his writings called “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary” says “ “All that belongs to God by nature belongs to Mary by grace”, say the saints, and, according to them, just as Jesus and Mary have the same will and the same power, they have also the same subjects, servants and slaves.” He also writes “Moreover, if, as I have said, the Blessed Virgin is the Queen and Sovereign of heaven and earth, does she not then have as many subjects and slaves as there are creatures? “All things, including Mary herself, are subject to the power of God. All things, God included, are subject to the Virgin’s power”, so we are told by St. Anselm, St. Bernard, St. Bernardine and St. Bonaventure.“ Really? Wow! I do think some people, past and present, take things to far – bordering (if not crossing over) to marian worship.

You’re probably asking “is she gonna come to a point of all of this?” The answer is “no.” LOL!!

Now, from what I understand, it is not a requirement that Catholics pray the rosary or venerate Mary (or any other saint). However, I do believe that we should live our lives as Mary did: with unshakeable belief and worship to her son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Before I decided to convert the Catholicism (and before my son was conceived), I was staunchly pro-choice (not pro-abortion – that moniker is so inflammatory and divisive).

But something happened – the conception of my son. My husband and I tried for 3 years to conceive a child (including some medical intervention) and by the grace of God, I became “with Child” last year. This was our first child (neither one of us had any children). He’s an absolute joy and such a happy baby.

It made me realize what a blessing and a miracle a child is. I heard my son’s heartbeat when I was six weeks pregnant. It was totally amazing!!

I just can’t imagine anyone aborting something so precious because they might have slept with a married man or felt like they were too young to have children (situations that I am personally aware of). Using abortion as birth control is truly sickening to me.

I’m kinda on the fence in cases of rape or incest and threats to a mother’s life. I can’t imagine being raped or molested and carrying the product of that horror for nine months.

Am I pro-choice or pro-life? I honestly don’t know. I cannot tell another woman what to do with her body. Being pregnant is not exactly a walk in the park (but what a great reward!).

I can say that you will never see me on the street with pictures of aborted fetuses screaming in front of an abortion clinic. I don’t think that’s very effective and calling some woman who has agonized over her decision a “baby-killer” or “a murderer” just breeds hate.

What I will do is pray for them and spread the news about adoption via Catholic Charities so young women know that abortion is not the only way. Also to let them know the the baby that they are carrying can be a blessing to a child-less couple.

God planted a seed in my heart. So, I began to research the Catholic faith. I read everything that I could get my hands on. (Even at this point, I am so sick of reading, but I cannot help myself – I can’t stop.)

I started attending mass on a regular basis and I kept reading and researching.

Then my fallen-away-from-the-Church husband told me that he was thinking about having our son baptized in the Catholic Church. You could have pushed me over with a feather!!! He then told me that he kind of wanted his son to grow up like he did – going to a Catholic school, being a alter boy, etc. I was floored to say the least.

It was at this moment that I knew God was calling me into the Church. Through me, the Lord was calling one of is wayward children – my husband – back into the faith; back to being a Christian! I knew my husband was watching me – my actions and my words. He was/is very supportive.

I am not going to sugar-coat it: there was sometimes where I did not agree with the Church (and still do not) and the opinions of some of her people (I’ll save that for later posts). But no matter how far away I tried to run, God kept pulling me back.

I eventually had to submit to His will. So I decided to inquire about the RCIA (Right of Christian Initiation of Adults) classes. They will begin the weekend after Labor Day! I am excited, but nervous at the same time. But my faith in Jesus is strong and I know that this is the right path for me.